Autumn Poetry Evening in the Smith Studio
		Sunday 27 September, 2026 At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington

The Tower's Poetry Evening returned to the Smith studio and featured an eclectic mix of contributions including much-loved classics, less well-known gems and some new writing.

Roanne Insley writes:

A Cheery Evening of Verse Old and New

On Sunday 27 September, more than 40 poetry lovers (a record number for this event) came together to enjoy an evening of poetry readings, expertly curated by George Savona and impeccably hosted by Matthew Ibbotson. Once again there was an intoxicating mix of original works read by their authors and favourite verses from well-known and less well-known writers.

Highlights included original works by Gillian Wallington, Caroline Halcrow, Tim Waghorn and Emily Ralph – all read by the authors. Emily has recently moved to London and heard about the event through a friend who lives in Stoke Newington – good to know that our marketing is reaching into the local community!

Of the well-known poets featured, we enjoyed some Dorothy Parker (read by Tess Walsh), a highly entertaining rendition of Cricket Master (An Incident) by John Betjeman delivered by Jonathan Norris, and well-loved Do Not Go Gentle... by Dylan Thomas (read by Femi Banjo). A special mention for Harry Reeder who delivered a couple of excellent poems on the theme of football – and managed the bar for the evening – poetry lovers are a thirsty crowd. The full programme of entertainment is listed below.

Taking part were
 

	Richard Hague	Tess Walsh	Michael Hopkins	Gillian Wallington	Andrew Robinson	Simon Taylor
	Femi Banjo	Roanne Insley	Michael Reilly	Vyvian Shaw	John McSpadyen	Tim Waghorn
	Andy Kimpton-Nye	Caroline Halcrow	Harry Reeder	Jonathan Norris	Emily Ralph	Penny O'Brien

Photography by Matthew Ibbotson

Here's a record of all the chosen poems:

PART ONE
Poem for Live8 by Rhidian Brook, read by Richard Hague
Symptom Recital and Theory and Unfortunate Coincidence by Dorothy Parker, read by Tess Walsh
Le Balcon by Charles Baudelaire, translated by Richard Stokes and Sonnet 29: When, in Disgrace with Fortune and Men’s Eyes by William Shakespeare, read by Michael Hopkins
Encounter in Truro and Captured written and read by Gillian Wallington
From The Duchess of Malfi, IV.ii by John Webster, read by Andrew Robinson
Church Going by Philip Larkin, read by Simon Taylor
Song at the Beginning of Autumn by Elizabeth Jennings and Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney, read by Penny O’Brien
Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas, read by Femi Banjo
La Figlia que Piange by T S Eliot and Giving up Smoking by Wendy Cope, read by Roanne Insley
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’- Part 2 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, read by Andy Kimpton-Nye
Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes, read by Vyvian Shaw
On the Wing written and read by Michael Reilly

PART TWO
Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802 by William Wordsworthand The London Breed by Benjamin Zephaniah, read by John McSpayden
A Return and In the Home, We Dance written and read by Tim Waghorn
The Trick of Happinessand Thank the Living Day written and read by Caroline Halcrow
Ode on a Goal by Simon Rae and The Englishman’s Fear of the Shoot-Out by Graham Salter, read by Harry Reeder
Undressing for Sex when You Feel You’re Getting Fat’ by Henry Normal, read by Vyvian Shaw
Cricket Master (An Incident) by John Betjeman, read by Jonathan Norris
Walking Away by C Day-Lewis, read by Simon Taylor
All I See is You<.em> and Food Delivery Guy written and read by Emily Ralph
These Trees have a Bad Reputation written and read by Andrew Robinson
Now Westlin Winds by Robert Burns, read by Richard Hague